“Although his research was good, Norman remained uneasy about the underlying purpose for his paper—alien invasion—which he personally considered speculative to the point of absurdity. He was embarrassed to submit his paper, particularly after he had rewritten it to make it seem more significant than he knew it was.”

When Norman sees his own report for the ULF program, he reveals his opinion that the idea of an alien invasion was a joke. This not only gives insight into Norman’s character, but it also presents a conflict within Norman that eventually pushes him to reexamine his beliefs. As the novel continues, Norman uses his training as a psychologist to remain rooted in reality while facing a possibly alien entity.

“Beth was a serious weight-lifter and runner; the veins and muscles bulged at her neck and on her forearms, and her legs, beneath her shorts, were powerful. Her hair was cut short, hardly longer than a man’s.

“At the same time, she wore jewelry and makeup, and she moved in a seductive way. Her voice was soft, and her eyes were large and liquid, especially when she talked about the living things that she studied. At those times she became almost maternal. One of her colleagues at the University of Chicago had referred to her as ‘Mother Nature with muscles.’”

This description of Beth encompasses her struggle between sexism in the workplace and her natural femininity. Her experience in which a former professor took credit for her work colors how she views the behavior of men around her and her desire to fit in in a profession that is male dominated. Nevertheless, Beth is a sexual person who wants to be desirable to the same men who cause her to feel inadequate based on her gender. This description takes on added weight late in the novel when the sphere’s power causes Beth to become more attractive, and her insecurities lead her to attempt to both seduce and kill Norman.